In my 48th year of Christian Ministry, I still can’t figure why “Sheep Sunday” should come so quickly after Easter! I’d be glad for your explanation. Is it to reprise the Lamb of God theme of the Pascal Season? Is it to remind us that all we like sheep have indeed gone astray, every one to her own way? A reading in Matthew’s Gospel has Jesus favoring sheep over goats, who are much more intelligent and nicer…. Whatever there lies, we’ll hear about it in this weekend’s lessons.
During Eastertide, we rightly explore the Acts of the Apostles, Luke’s second volume in the handbook for Christian Living. This passage (Acts 2:42-47) describes the clustering of Believers in those euphoric days after they recognized that the Resurrection really happened: they ate together, prayed together, even pooled their earthly goods! Wonders and signs were being done, and the air is full of justice and well-being. However brief the moment, for now the Church was Flocking Together.
St. Peter (or someone writing in his name) wrote to the congregations in Asia Minor, which were being persecuted for their alternative life-style. He called them to bond with Christ’s sufferings, to take his wounds as their own–for character and for healing. “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have (been?) returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” (I Peter 2:25) Is it the sufferings of Christ which cause us to be Flocking Together? Or our own perceived deprivations….?
It’s true. Sheep won’t go with someone they don’t know. Suspicious of strangers and trusting of friends, they become immobile and often easy prey when confused. St. John remembers Jesus calling himself the gate to the sheepfold (10:1-10): both to protect from external harm AND to set the “prisoners” free into the freshness of a new day. The shepherd is more than a manager: he’s a companion and guide, promising green pastures and cool streams. With such an arrangement, we’ll be just fine as long as we Flock Together!
May your worship be a good gathering! May the prelude be “Sheep May Safely Graze”, and your final hymn , “There’ll Never Be Another Ewe”… Cling together as a flock. Try not to wool-gather during the sermon. Beware the wolves.
God Bless Us, Every One Horace Brown King
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